TEHRAN (FNA)- Several regions were liberated, while ISIL militants
were killed in Western Anbar, as Iraqi joint troops resumed their
advance to liberate the terrorist group's last two bastions in the
province.

"Troops of the Jazeera Operations Command liberated villages
of al-Awani, Northern Jibab and al-Zallah, South of Euphrates,"
Western Anbar Operations Command said in a statement, Iraqi News
reported.

Moreover, the Defense Ministry's War Media Cell quoted the
command as saying, "the 26th brigade of al-Hashd al-Shaabi [Popular
Mobilization Forces] accomplished its duty in Akashat-Qaim axis after
liberating 43 kilometers of the Akashat-Qaim road and combing an area of
301 square kilometers."

Earlier on the day, a security source was quoted saying that
security forces liberated regions of al-Mawali, al-Nazwah and al-Nahyah,
located West of Rawa, in Western Anbar.

The army's 8th division engaged with a group of ISIL militants
at south of al-Qaim, earlier today, killing 25. A source was quoted as
saying that army warplanes killed dozens others of militants in
Qaim's desert.

The Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi announced on Thursday the
launch of operations to liberate Qaim and Rawa towns.

Hundreds of thousands of messages were airdropped on Wednesday on
the two towns informing civilians that security troops are coming to
free them and urging them to stay away from the enemy.

Both towns have been held by the terrorist group since 2014, when
it occupied one third of Iraq to proclaim a self-styled
"Caliphate".